Books with author Jennifer Swanson

Have you ever tried to come up with ways to solve a problem in your community? Wangari Maathai worked to solve an environmental crisis and help people at the same time.When Maathai was young, it was unusual for girls in Kenya to go to school, but she was determined to learn more about science and nature. As an adult, she noticed that people were cutting down too many trees. Maathai knew that forest loss was bad for the health of the environment and people. She started the Green Belt Movement, which educated women in rural villages and paid them for every tree they planted. The program helped plant millions of trees and brought money to the villages. For her environmental and human rights work, Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Since the development of the World Wide Web in the 1990s, humans have been living in the Information Age. Thats why one important job in the growing field of information technology is that of database administrator (DBA). A DBA is responsible for storing, backing up, and making information easy to access, as well as ensuring its security. This title uses an easy-to-understand, straightforward approach to explore the tasks DBAs perform and the education, certification, and experience required for it. It also outlines steps high school students can take to prepare for fulfilling employment requirements and tips for finding job openings in the field.

Most scientists agree that Earth is warming rapidly. Glaciers are melting and rising seawaters are submerging islands and coastal cities. In the coming decades, millions will likely have to escape extreme weather caused by climate change. Some scientists say we need to act faster and with radical new technologies―now―to save our planet. They propose geoengineering, or "engineering Earth," to reset our global thermostat. Ideas include thickening clouds with chemicals to reduce the amount of sunlight and pulling carbon dioxide from the air with machines. However, critics say that geoengineering could backfire and create even worse weather. Is geoengineering too risky? Or is it our best hope of survival?

Cutting-edge science; high-performance sports How are the sports played by Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Michelle Wie, and Usain Bolt related? Nanotechnology! Take a close-up look at sports and nanotechnology, the cutting-edge science that manipulates objects at the atomic level. Nanotechnology is used to create high-tech swimsuits, tennis rackets, golf clubs, running shoes, and more. It is changing the face of sports as we know it. Back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, list of resources, and index. Perfect for 2016 Summer Olympics displays and celebrations.

In this award-winning book, the dynamic canine detective duo of Penny and Rio are out to solve their first case. Penny and Rio are two dogs who are complete opposites. Penny is curious and always on the go, while Rio prefers a good nap. At their new house, Penny discovers that their backyard is a meeting place for an unlikely group of animals. She doesn't know why a cat, a groundhog, a squirrel, and an owl could possibly be meeting but she has to find out. Through an ingenious plan, Penny discovers their evil plot. Can she stop them in time? Will Rio help her or is she more concerned with getting a suntan. Follow along as these two pet detectives solve their first of many cases and learn that things are not always as they appear.2009 Mom's Choice Award Winner2009 The Dove Foundation's Family Approved Seal for All Ages2008 Royal Palm Literary Award

Everything moves! Kids run around the playground, cars drive on the road, and balls fly through the air. What causes all this motion? Physics! Forces and motion rule the way everything moves through space.In Explore Forces and Motion! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 through 10 discover that the push and pull of every object on the planet and in space depends on how a force acts upon it. Things float because of a force called buoyancy, we stick to the ground because of a force called gravity, and we make footprints in sand because of a force called pressure.Physics becomes accessible and interactive through activities such as a experimenting with a water cup drop, building a bridge, and spotting magnetic field lines. Simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and wedges are used as vehicles for discovery and comprehension of the foundational concepts of physical science. Using a theme familiar to everyone—motion—this book captures the imagination and encourages young readers to push, pull, twist, turn, and spin their way to learning about forces and motion.

Readers will be surprised to find out that their poop is good for building things. They'll learn how animals use poop to construct nests, homes, and even fences. People mold it into bricks for houses and plop it on fences for support. It's biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and can add a bit of spice to any home construction project. This book meets NGSS Standards for grades 3 to 5 for STEM curriculum.